Fuse box and entrance switch



April 14, 1942- B. E. SHAW 2,279,744

FUSE BOX AND ENTRANCE SWITCH Filed July l5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q9 Y INVENTOR BY zLfZ/POMEVZQJU, @QW 94 new 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 B. E. SHAW FUSE BOX AND ENTRANCE SWITCH Filed July l5, 1940 April 14, 1942.

Patented Apr. 14, 1942 FUSE BOX AND ENTRANCE SWITCH Burton E. Shaw, Bristol, Ind., assigner to Penn Electric Switch Co., Goshen, Ind., a corporation of Iowa Application `luly 15, 1940, Serial No. 345,583

14 Claims.

My present invention relates to a fuse box and entrance switch wherein the parts thereof are compactly arranged' within a two-part body member of insulating material,

One object of the invention is to provide a compact structure of the general character mentioned which may be inexpensively manufactured and which, however, provides all the safety features and rugged construction of the usual arrangement of a separate fuse block and a separate entrance switch located in a steel entrance box, my structure necessitating the use of a less expensive box, as it can be of much smaller dimension to contain the fuse box and entrance switch that I here disclose.

A further object is to provide a structure of the kind under consideration wherein a relatively few number of parts formed of metal and insulating material may be assembled in a novel manner to produce a structure that will receive fuses, and wherein a switch lever is operable to one position for establishing a circuit from the line to the load through the fuses, and in another position is effective to open such circuit, the various parts of the structure being held assembled by securing the two halves of a body member together after the parts are inserted in their proper position between the body members.

A further object is to provide a fuse box and entrance switch wherein a body member has a lower part formed to receive contact brackets, a switch operating shaft and its associated parts, and an upper part of the body is formed to receive the fuse sockets and to retain the contact brackets, etc., in position between the two halves of the body portion when they are assembled together as by means of screws or the like.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more .fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and-illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a fuse box and entrance switch embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof with the upper body part removed, and the screws for retaining it in position shown in section;

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional views on the lines 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6 of Figure 2 showing details of construction. Figures 3 to 6 include the upper body member which is omitted from Figure 2.

. Figure 'l is an exploded perspective view of a fuse socket and a set of contact brackets of my switch structure, and

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a switch shaft of my invention, together with its associated parts,

In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference character B to indicate generally a body. The body B is preferably made of insulating material and consists of a lower part I0 and an upper part I2. The parts II'I and I2 are adapted to be secured together as by screws I2, having their heads countersunk with respect to the top of the part I2, passing rotatably through the part I2 and threaded into the part I0, (see Figure 4) Between the body parts I0 and I2 a plurality of contact brackets B1 to B6, respectively, and a pair of fuse sockets F1 and F6 are provided. One set of brackets and fuse socket is illustrated in Figure 'l as B1, B4, B6 and F2. 'Ihe other set, consisting of the elements B2, B3, B5 and F1 are identical to the set shown in Figure '7 except that they are reversed in position when assembled. I will describe the set shown in Figure 7 in detail so that it will be understood that the other set is of the same description.

The brackets B1 and B6 are switch contact brackets while the bracket B4 is a fuse base contact. The fuse base contact B4 consists of a shank I3 and a contact portion I4. The contact portion I4 is located in a seat I5 formed in a protuberance I6 of the bottom part I0 of the body B. The shank I3 passes downwardly through an opening I1 provided in the part I0 therefor.

The lower end of the bracket B4 is forked to receive a wire such as a load Wire L4 shown diagrammatically in Figure 2, which wire is soldered into the forked lower end of the shank at the time installation is made.

During manufacture of the fuse box, the lower end of the shank I3 is twisted as illustrated in Figure 3 to retain the fuse base contact B4 in position with respect to the part I0.

The switch contact bracket B1 has a brush portion I8, an offset portion I9 and a shank 20. The shank 20 passes through an opening 2| provided in the body part IIJ therefor, as shown in Figure 6, while the offset portion I9 rests in a seat 22, which so receives the offset portion that its upper surface is countersunk to a position coincidental with the upper surface of the body part I0.

The lower marginal edge of the shank 20 is bent as illustrated in Figure 6 to retain the bracket B1 assembled relative to the body part IU and to permit insertion of a line wire such as L1 in Figure 2 to be soldered in its forked lower end during installation.

The switch contact bracket B6 has a brush portion 23, a shank portion 24, a washer portion and an ear 26. The washer portion 25 surrounds the protuberance It and rests on a pair of shoulders 2l' formed on the fuse socket F2. The washer portion thereby retains the fuse socket in relation to the body part lll.

The shank 24 and the ear 26 are countersunk in grooves 2B and 2li provided for them in the upper surface of the body part Il). The body part |2 is depended upon for v retaining the bracket B6 in its assembled position.

A switch shaft 3i) of other than round cross section is journalled with respect to the body B in the following described manner: A pair of similar bearing members BM and BM are slidably and non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 3B. Each bearing member has sleeve portions 3| and 32 and a flanged portion 33. The lower and upper body parts lil and l2 are provided with bore portions 34, 35, 36 and 3l to receive, respectively, the shaft and the portions 3|, 32 and 33 of bearing members BM, each body part having half of the bore portion. The sleeve portions 3| and 32 of the bearing member BM are rotatable relative to the body B.

The switch shaft 3i] is provided with a pair of angular grooves 33 and 39 adapted to receive keeper washers 40 and lil respectively. A spring 42 is located on the shaft 3i! between one of the bearing members BM and the keeper 40, as shown in Figure 5. The spring :i2 biases the bearing members toward each other for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

An operating or switch arm i3 is mounted on the switch shaft 3i) exterior of the body B. A set screw M is provided for securing the lever 43 in the desired position on the shaft.

Each bearing member BM is provided in its ange 33 with a pair of notches 45. Similar switch arms SA are adapted to coact therewith. Each switch arm has a central washer portion 46 to receive the sleeve 32 of a bearing member BM and a short arm 4l and a long arm 48 extending in opposite directions from the washer portion 45. The arms 4l and 48 are received in the notches so that the switch arms are rotated by the bearing members.

In the assembled position, as in Figure 2, the spring 42 in tending to move the bearing members BM toward each other, causes the switch arms SA to resiliently contact with the brush portions I8 and 23 of the brackets B1, B2, B5 and B6. It will be noted that each enlarged bore portion 31 in the body B is somewhat wider than the thickness of the ilange 33, plus the thickness of the switch arm SA, thereby permitting the necessary longitudinal movement of the bearing members for this purpose.

Practical operation In the operation of my fuse box and entrance switch, whenever it is desirable to remove a fuse, the switch lever 43 may be swung from its on position of Figures l and 2 (solid line position of Figure 4) reversely to the dash line position of Figure 4 in order to disconnect the line wires from the fuse sockets Fl and F2 for safety. This will effect rocking of the left-hand switch arm SA in Figure 2 from the dotted position to the dash position of Figure 3, and rocking of the right-hand switch arm in Figure 2 from the full the brackets when the circuit is closed.

The bore portions 31 within the body part l0 are provided with shoulders 49 and 50 which,

as shown in Figures 4 and 3 respectively, limit rotation of the switch shaft 30 into its on and off position respectively by engagement with the long arms 48 of the right and left hand switch arms of Figure 2.

When the circuit is to be reestablished, then the lever 43 is swung to its on position and the switch arms will again bridge the brackets B1 and B5 and the brackets B2 and BG under tension of the spring 42.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a fuse box an-d entrance switch, a twopart body of insulating material, contact brackets of right angle and Z cross section between said parts, one of said parts having a recess in its bottom and openings through which vertical legs of some of said brackets extend from the top of said part into said recess, the horizontal legs of said brackets being countersunk in the top surface of said part, the other of said parts retaining said brackets in position, fuse sockets retained in position by some of said brackets, said other part having bores to encircle said fuse sockets, a switch shaft journalled between said parts, switch arms operatively connected with said switch shaft and adapted to open a circuit between vertical legs of said brackets when said switch shaft is in one position and to close said circuit when said switch shaft is in another position.

2. In a fuse box and entrance switch, a twopart body, contact brackets of right angle and Z cross section between said parts, one of said parts having openings to accommodate vertical legs of some of said brackets, the other of said parts retaining said brackets in position, fuse sockets retained in position by some cf said brackets, said other part having bores to encircle said fuse sockets, a switch shaft journalled between said parts, switch arms operatively connected with said switch shaft and adapted to open a circuitbetween vertical legs of certain of said contact brackets when said switch shaft is in one position and to close said circuit when said switch shaft is in another position.

3. In a fuse box and entrance switch, a body of insulating material and formed in two parts, contact brackets having horizontal flanges between said parts, said body having openings to accommodate vertical flanges of said brackets, said parts, when assembled together, retaining said brackets in position, fuse sockets retained in position by some of said brackets, one of said parts having bores to receive said fuse sockets, a rockably mounted switch shaft, bearings thereon journalled ybetween said parts, switch arms operatively connectedY with said bearings and adapted to open a circuit between vertical flanges of saidbrackets wheny said switch shaft is rocked to one position and to close said circuit when said switch shaft is rocked to another position, the last mentioned vertical flanges being in pairs in each line to load circuit with one of them extending upwardly and the other one extending downwardly from the parting line between said two parts. f y

4. In a fuse box a d entrance switch, a body of insulating material, contact brackets and fuse sockets embedded in said body, a switch shaft having bearing portions journalled half in each of said body parts, means to connect said body parts together to retain said bearing portions and 'switch shaft in position between said body parts, switch arms operatively connected with said bearings and adapted to open a circuit between certain of said contact brackets when said switch shaft is in one position and to close said circuit when said switch shaft is in another position, and means constraining said bearings to move relative to each other` in a direction axially of said switch shaft and thereby urge said switch arms to effect contact pressure with relation to said certain of said contact brackets.

5. A fuse box and entrance switch structure comprising a two-part body, the parts thereof being formed of insulating material and each having a pair of narrow recesses registering with each other to form substantially closed chambers, contact brackets having switch contact arms extending into said chambers, fuse sockets retained in position by certain of said contact brackets, one of said parts being provided with bores to encircle said fuse sockets, a switch shaft having anged bearings slidably and non-rotatably positioned thereon, said body parts each having a half socket to rotatably receive said bearings, keepers on said shaft on opposite sides of said bearings, a spring between one of said keepers and one of said bearings to constrain said bearings to move toward each other, switch arms mounted on said bearings and movable in said narrow recesses, said bearings coacting with said switch arms to effect rotation of said switch arms with said bearings, said switch arms being adapted to open a circuit between said switch contact arms of said brackets when the switch shaft is in one position and to close such circuits when the shaft is in another position, and a handle exterior of said body for rotating said switch shaft, said switch arms being constrained to engage said switch contact arms under the bias of said spring.

6. A fuse box and entrance switch structure comprising a two-part body having companion recesses to constitute substantially closed chambers when said two parts are assembled, contact brackets having switch contact arms extending into said closed chambers, fuse sockets retained in position by body parts when assembled, a switch shaft having flanged bearing sleeves slidably and non-rotatably positioned thereon, said bearing sleeves being rockable in half bearings formed in said body parts and limited in axial movement relative thereto by their fianges, shoulders on said shaft on opposite sides of said bearing sleeves, a spring between one of said shoulders and one of said bearing sleeves to constrain said bearing sleeves to move toward each other, switch arms mounted on said bearing sleeves and movable in said closed chambers, said bearing sleeves coacting therewith to effect rotation of said switch arms with said bearing sleeves, said switch arms being adapted to bridge certain of said contact brackets when the switch shaft is in one position and to disengage said certain of said contact brackets when the shaft is in another position,

7. A fuse box and entrance switch structure comprising a two-part body, contact brackets and fuse sockets, said body parts having openings to accommodate said brackets and sockets, a switch shaft having flanged bearings slidably and nonrotatably positioned thereon, said body parts having half sockets to rotatably receive said bearings, a spring associated with said bearings to constrain them to move toward each other, switch arms mounted on said bearings, said body parts having half recesses to receive said switch arms, said bearings coacting with said switch arms to eifect rotation thereof with said bearings, said switch arms being adapted to open a circuit between certain of said contact brackets when the switch shaft is in one position and to close said circuit when the shaft is in another position with said spring effecting contact pressure between said contact brackets and said switch arms, and a handle exterior of said body for rotating said switch shaft.

8. A device of the class described comprising a two-part body formed of insulating material, and having half recesses to form substantially closed chambers by assembly of said body parts together, a switch shaft having bearings slidably and non-rotatably positioned thereon, said body having sockets to rotatably receive said bearings, shoulders on said shaft on opposite sides of said bearings, a spring between one of said shoulders and one of said bearings to constrain said bearings to move toward each other, switch arms extending from said bearings and movable in said closed chambers, contact brackets having switch contact portions located in said chambers, said switch arms being adapted to coact withv said contact portions under constraint of said spring when the switch shaft is in one position and disengage said brackets when the shaft is in another position, and a handle exterior of said body for rotating said switch shaft.

9. A fuse box and entrance switch comprising a body of insulating material formed to provide a lower part and an upper part, said lower part having openings therein, contact brackets received in said openings, means for securing said upper part to said lower part to retain said contact brackets in position with respect to said lower part, fuse sockets supported on said lower part and retained in supported position by certain of said contact brackets, said upper part having bores to accommodate said fuse sockets when said parts are assembled together, a transverse bore between said parts, a switch shaft, bearings therefor journalled in said transverse bore, said bore having enlarged parts and said bearings having flanges received in said enlarged parts to limit axial movement of said bearings relative to said body, means on saidswitch shaft to limit axial movement thereof relative to said bearings, a spring to effect movement of said bearings toward each other, said bearings being slidably and non-rotatably mounted on said switch shaft, and switch arms carried thereby for switching coaction with said contact brackets.

10. A fuse box and entrance switch comprising a body formed to provide a lower part and an upper part, contact brackets located in said body parts, means for securing said upper part to said lower part to retain said contact brackets in located position with respect thereto, fuse sockets supported on said lower part, said upper part having boresv to receive said fuse sockets when said parts are assembled together and permit fuse insertion relative thereto, a switch shaft and bearings therefor journalled between said body parts, means on said switch shaft to limit axial movement thereof relative to said bearings, a spring to effect movement of said bearings toward each other, said bearings being slidably and non-rotatably mounted on sa-id switch shaft and switch arms carried by said bearing for switching coaction with said contact brackets.

11. A fuse box and entrance switch comprising a body including a lower part and an upper part, said lower part having openings therein, contact brackets located in said openings, means for securing said upper part to said lower part to retain said contact brackets in position with respect to said lower part, fuse sockets supported on said lower part, a transverse bore between said body parts, a switch shaft and bearings therefor l journalled in said transverse bore, means on said switch shaft to bias said bearings toward each other, said bearings being slidably and non-rotatably mounted on said switch shaft and switch arms carried thereby for switching coaction with said Contact brackets.

12. A fuse box and entrance switch comprising a two part body of insulating material, one part thereof having openings therein, two sets of contact brackets received in said openings, means for securing said upper part to said lower part to retain said contact brackets in position with respect to said lower part, each of said sets of contact brackets comprising two switch contact brackets and one fuse base Contact bracket, fuse sockets supported on one of said body parts and retained in supported position by certain of said switch contact brackets, said other body part having bores to receive said fuse sockets, a transverse bore between said body parts, a switch shaft and bearings therefor journalled in said transverse bore, a spring on said switch shaft to effect axial movement of said bearings, said bearings being non-rotatably mounted on said switch shaft with one of them also slidable thereon, and switch arms carried thereby for switching coaction with said contact brackets under constraint of said spring and as a result of such axial movement.

13. A fuse box and entrance switch comprising a body of insulating material formed to provide a lower part and an upper part, said lower part having openings therein, contact brackets received in said openings, means for securing said upper part to said lower part to retain said contact brackets in position with respect to said lowerv part, fuse sockets supported on said lower part and retained in supported position by certain of said contact brackets, said upper part having bores to accommodate said fuse sockets when said body parts are assembled together, a transverse bore between said parts, a switch shaft and bearings therefor journalled in said transverse bore, said bore having enlarged parts and said bearings having flanges received in said enlarged parts to limit longitudinal movement of said bearings relative to said body, means on said switch shaft to limit longitudinal movement thereof relative to said bearings, a spring to effect movement of said bearings toward each other, said bearings being slidably and non-rotatably mounted on said switch shaft and switch arms carried thereby for switching coacting with said contact brackets, said switch arms being located in said enlarged parts of said bore.

14. In a fuse box and entrance switch, a twopart body of insulating material, a contact bracket of right-angle cross-section having its horizontal leg confined between said parts, a fuse socket retained in position by said bracket, one of said body parts having a bore to encircle said fuse socket, a second contact bracket of Z-crosssection, the other of said body parts having a recess therein and an opening through which said second Contact bracket extends, said two body parts having recesses in which said switch contact arms of said two contact brackets extend, a switch shaft journaled between said two body parts, switch arms operatively connected with said switch shaft and movable in said last recesses to open a circuit between said switch contact arms of said contact brackets when said switch shaft is in one position and to close said circuit when said switch shaft is in another position.

BURTON E. SHAW. 

